Tetraploid vs Diploid
Understanding Ryegrass and the difference between Tetraploid and Diploid
When it comes to pasture choosing the right type of grass is important among the numerous varieties available, ryegrass stands out as a popular option for its adaptability and fast growth, however not all ryegrass is the same, ryegrass can be classified into two distinct types tetraploid and diploid, understanding the genetic differences between these two variations is essential for selecting the appropriate grass for your specific needs, In this blog post we will look at the difference between tetraploid and diploid ryegrass to shed light on their unique characteristics and applications.
What is Ryegrass?
Ryegrass scientifically known as Lolium is a cool-season grass that belongs to the Poaceae family, It is widely used in lawns, sports fields, and pastures due to its rapid growth, ability to withstand heavy traffic, and superior aesthetics, ryegrass is categorized into two groups based on their ploidy level: tetraploid and diploid.
Diploid Ryegrass:
The cells within a diploid ryegrass are smaller than in tetraploids, resulting in a lower ratio of water-soluble carbohydrates (sugar) compared to fibre, Diploid ryegrass contains two sets of chromosomes in each cell, giving it a total of 14 chromosomes,
Competitive Advantage: Diploid ryegrass typically has a more aggressive and competitive growth habit, can be more winter hardy under frost, good robustness and versatility, are denser and with a better ground cover and maybe more competitive with weeds, It excels in situations where it needs to outcompete other grasses or weeds due to its robust nature, they are more resistant to damage by grazing cattle.
Diploid ryegrass tends to be shorter in height and a lighter colour compared to tetraploid ryegrass.
Our Italian Ryegrass and Hybrid Ryegrass can be either a diploid or tetraploid depending on availability and customer requirements.
Tetraploid Ryegrass:
Tetraploid ryegrass on the other hand contains four sets of chromosomes in each cell, resulting in a total of 28 chromosomes, this genetic makeup imparts unique qualities to tetraploid ryegrass distinguishing it from its diploid counterpart:
Intensive farming systems require ryegrasses that produce bulk, high quality feed to drive animal performance and productivity, Tetraploids are a significant tool in helping achieve this
Tetraploid varieties are typically darker and more broad-leaved, higher sugar content, better winter hardiness, and more open growth, tetraploid seed size is larger than diploids, they give better compatibility with clover and other mixes.
Animals prefer tetraploids over diploids if they have a choice and often graze tetraploid ryegrass more quickly and lower.
Tetraploid ryegrass tends to exhibit a taller growth habit making it an excellent choice for forage or hay production, its increased biomass production and palatability make it a preferred option in livestock farming.
Avoid overgrazing, the palatability of tetraploids can easily result in pastures being overgrazed, Monitor post-grazing residuals to avoid these getting too low and comprising ryegrass persistence and regrowth.
Greater intake of tetraploids can lead to increased production, better rumen function, tetraploids can be broken down quicker.
Apply nitrogen as normal tetraploid ryegrasses are naturally a darker green than diploids, but still require similar amounts of nitrogen
In our range we stock Dominate - annual ryegrass tetraploid and Stride and Algira - perennial ryegrass tetraploid.
Our Italian Ryegrass and Hybrid Ryegrass can be either a diploid or tetraploid depending on availability and customer requirements.
Choosing the Right Ryegrass for Your Needs:
Often a Blend or Mix of both is a good way to go, Combining the high sugars of tetraploids with the denseness and hardiness of diploids.
Deciding between tetraploid and diploid ryegrass or a mix of both depends on your specific requirements and intended use. Get in touch with us for free no obligation advice and quoting.
